New Dark Matter Rod

[Snapprhead27]

Saw this pop up on my IG feed. Interesting little rod, I'd like to know more on the specs of it.






AVAILABLE DECEMBER 2026

 

[Leprechaun]

That looks to be a very cool little stick. I've always like the Dark Matter "Skinner" fluke rods and think their slightly slower taper is ideal for minimizing hook pulls on those larger head-shaking fluke. And they do handle the heavier jig and sinker weights that we commonly use offshore.

However, this weekend one of my dock mates brought over a fairly new Skinner fluke rod that broke right at the foregrip. Snapped clean off. I've seen a lot of broken graphite rods over the years, but never one that broke in that location. On top of that, the blank's wall thickness was REALLY thin - something I've also not seen in most other blanks I've owned or worked with, especially down low on the blank, near the handle area.

Could have been a one-off event, and can't really bad-mouth rods that have become best sellers, but it does give me pause regarding picking one up myself. I do like everything else about them though, so there's that . . .

As an aside, recently I'm all about shorter rod lengths - between my 5'8" 300gram Jigging World Ghost Hunter I like for tog and especially my new 5'6" Palmarius Wakizashi fluke jigger, I have a tough time switching to longer rods after using the shorties on any particular trip. Just so very nice in the hand. So, a 5' spinner that can perform on the offshore fluke grounds? Why not?

 

[Snapprhead27]

Another new one

 

[OVERBORED]

That looks to be a very cool little stick. I've always like the Dark Matter "Skinner" fluke rods and think their slightly slower taper is ideal for minimizing hook pulls on those head-shaking larger fluke. And they do handle the heavier jig and sinker weights that we commonly use offshore.

However, this weekend one of my dock mates brought over a fairly new SkinneR fluke rod that broke right at the foregrip. Snapped clean off. I've seen a lot of broken graphite rods over the years, but never one that broke in that location. On top of that, the blank's wall thickness was REALLY thin - something I've also not seen in most other blanks I've owned or worked with.

Could have been a one-off event, and can't really bad-mouth rods that have become best sellers, but it does give me pause regarding picking one up myself. I do like everything else about them though, so there's that . . .

As an aside, recently I'm all about shorter rod lengths - between my 5'8" 300gram Jigging World Ghost Hunter I like for tog and especially my new 5'6" Palmarius Wakizashi fluke jigger, I have a tough time switching to longer rods after using the shorties on any particular trip. Just so very nice in the hand. So, a 5' spinner that can perform on the offshore fluke grounds? Why not?

You've seen enough quality blanks to know what an inferior one looks like. Thin walled blanks don't survive very long if fished hard.........just sayin.

 

[Snapprhead27]

That looks to be a very cool little stick. I've always like the Dark Matter "Skinner" fluke rods and think their slightly slower taper is ideal for minimizing hook pulls on those head-shaking larger fluke. And they do handle the heavier jig and sinker weights that we commonly use offshore.

However, this weekend one of my dock mates brought over a fairly new SkinneR fluke rod that broke right at the foregrip. Snapped clean off. I've seen a lot of broken graphite rods over the years, but never one that broke in that location. On top of that, the blank's wall thickness was REALLY thin - something I've also not seen in most other blanks I've owned or worked with.

Could have been a one-off event, and can't really bad-mouth rods that have become best sellers, but it does give me pause regarding picking one up myself. I do like everything else about them though, so there's that . . .

As an aside, recently I'm all about shorter rod lengths - between my 5'8" 300gram Jigging World Ghost Hunter I like for tog and especially my new 5'6" Palmarius Wakizashi fluke jigger, I have a tough time switching to longer rods after using the shorties on any particular trip. Just so very nice in the hand. So, a 5' spinner that can perform on the offshore fluke grounds? Why not?

Do you notice a difference in how you fish the SPJ, Palmarius Wakizashi...as opposed to the Palmarius's we picked up about 2-3 years ago now? I've realized you really can't do that rapid jigging for fluke like we see/do a lot. When I swing up hard to set the hook I feel like I lose a lot of fish. It needs to be a soft upward pull as the tip is super soft. Hope I explained it right.

 

[Leprechaun]

Do you notice a difference in how you fish the SPJ, Palmarius Wakizashi...as opposed to the Palmarius's we picked up about 2-3 years ago now? I've realized you really can't do that rapid jigging for fluke like we see/do a lot. When I swing up hard to set the hook I feel like I lose a lot of fish. It needs to be a soft upward pull as the tip is super soft. Hope I explained it right.

Matt, I don't quite understand what you mean by rapid jigging not being possible with the Waki. I do it all the time with my Waki #2, in fact its actually easier on my old wrist with the shorter rod length.

As far as swinging hard on a fluke bite, I never do that - unlike a certain Captain we both know that swings so hard his feet just about leave the deck.

I just use a sharp upward jerk of the tip - if your hooks are sharp enough (and they should be), that's more than sufficient to set the hook in a fluke. Tog are another story, but certainly the mouth of a fluke, even a larger specimen, is nowhere near as tough as a tog's. I feel that an over-enthusiastic swing moves the bait too far from that fish for a second shot at him/her/(they!)

Just my thinking, your results may vary.

 

[Snapprhead27]

Matt, I don't quite understand what you mean by rapid jigging not being possible with the Waki. I do it all the time with my Waki #2, in fact its actually easier on my old wrist with the shorter rod length.

As far as swinging hard on a fluke bite, I never do that - unlike a certain Captain we both know that swings so hard his feet just about leave the deck.

I just use a sharp upward jerk of the tip - if your hooks are sharp enough (and they should be), that's more than sufficient to set the hook in a fluke. Tog are another story, but certainly the mouth of a fluke, even a larger version, is nowhere near as tough as a tog's. I feel that an over-enthusiastic swing moves the bait too far from that fish for a second shot at him/her/(they!)

Just my thinking, your results may vary.

I see what your saying. I noticed at times when I swing up with my rod Palmarius Model 0 that I'm not setting the hook as well as say my BlackHole. Maybe I need to go sharp upward and short as opposed to swinging for the fences.

 

[Leprechaun]

Well, it IS only a "0" Power. Not much beef to call on for a power hook-set. In this case I guess I would swing harder than I normally would.

 

[captmike28]

Matt, I don't quite understand what you mean by rapid jigging not being possible with the Waki. I do it all the time with my Waki #2, in fact its actually easier on my old wrist with the shorter rod length.

As far as swinging hard on a fluke bite, I never do that - unlike a certain Captain we both know that swings so hard his feet just about leave the deck.

I just use a sharp upward jerk of the tip - if your hooks are sharp enough (and they should be), that's more than sufficient to set the hook in a fluke. Tog are another story, but certainly the mouth of a fluke, even a larger specimen, is nowhere near as tough as a tog's. I feel that an over-enthusiastic swing moves the bait too far from that fish for a second shot at him/her/(they!)

Just my thinking, your results may vary.

I realize I will probably jinx myself with this comment but here goes.

Over the many decades I have been fishing and using my "patented grand slam swing" hookset I have never broken a blank using that technique. Maybe some other dumb things have cost me a rod or two but not that one.

In any case, I am happy to hear that I am increasing the entertainment factor for my fellow anglers!

 

[OVERBORED]

Mike. Swinging for the fences was ingrained during the age of glass rod blanks and monofilament line!

Granted when we started using braid we ripped the lips off more than a few fish, the thought of a gentle hookset will always seem foreign to me!

 

[Snapprhead27]

Mike. Swinging for the fences was ingrained during the age of glass rod blanks and monofilament line!

Granted when we started using braid we ripped the lips off more than a few fish, the thought of a gentle hookset will always seem foreign to me!

Speaking of gentle hookset. I go with Capt Bryan of Salty Dog Charters and I make fun of him with his hookset. But it always works!! He keeps one hand near the reel and the other at the butt of the rod and ever so gentle just pivots it, just like a fulcrum.

 

[longcast]

I see what your saying. I noticed at times when I swing up with my rod Palmarius Model 0 that I'm not setting the hook as well as say my BlackHole. Maybe I need to go sharp upward and short as opposed to swinging for the fences.

User malfunction on the Palmarius 0, lol. Best rod eva

 

[longcast]

User malfunction on the Palmarius 0, lol. Best rod eva

All kidding aside, I use that rod in the fall for bass too. Much harder mouth structure and hooks get planted!!

 

[Snapprhead27]

I don't know what the hell I'm doing wrong